Leisure Battery Replacement

[Broadway]

I’m looking for some advice to replace my Motorhome leisure battery as I think it’s on the way out.

I have an Auto Sleepers Winchcombe 2017. I have not looked at the battery yet as it’s under the passenger seat and not easily accessible. However I believe it’s a lead acid battery in the range 75 to 120Ah according to the manual. I appreciate I will need to check the size to fit the available space.

There is a Sergeant EC500 PSU and PX-300 charger. There is also an 80w solar panel which charges both the vehicle and leisure battery as directed by the PSU. The vehicle alternator also charges both batteries.

The manual advises a replacement lead acid battery or will also accept “most” AGM batteries subject to the charging profile. No mention of suitability for Lithium is made.

We don’t do a lot of off grid but like the option for a few days.

My question is what go for, standard lead acid, EFB, AGM or lithium.

I have read the details on KS Energy website regarding the “drop in” capability of their lithium batteries to replace lead acid. However I’ve also read elsewhere that the set up above without a lithium charging profile is not suitable.

If I do decide on lithium what equipment would I need to change.

The charging profile of my current set up is as follows:-
During stage 1 the battery voltage is increased gradually while the current is limited to start the charging process and protect the battery. At stage 2 the voltage rises to 14.4V (Vboost) to deliver the bulk charge to the battery. When the battery is charged, the voltage is decreased at stage 3 to 13.6V (Vflt) to deliver a float charge to maintain the battery in the fully charged state. The charger can be left switched on continuously as required.
The battery charger / power converter can also provide power to the leisure equipment when the mains supply is connected. This module supplies DC to the leisure equipment up to a maximum of 25 Amps (300 Watts), therefore the available power is distributed between the leisure load and the battery, under these conditions the charge indicator will show Red.

I‘d welcome any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

There is a brilliant article on this subject somewhere within the fun archives , written very well by Eddie Van Bitz.
Definitely a must-read before you do anything.

 

[Broadway]

I’ll do a search. Thanks.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I have the same van and have just changed the original 95ah battery due to it failing.
For cost and simplicity I have fitted two 100ah batteries to double the available capacity. The battery tray was siliconed down onto the wooden board and also over the retaining strap. Refitted at 90 degrees with the strap as well (it is long enough to hold both) along with another tray. I have linked the drain tube with a windscreen washer tee piece to avoid drilling the floor for the extra battery.
I then adjusted the system for the bigger ah capacity using the advanced options on the panel. This should now be plenty for several days off grid use.
More solar is next but I think the existing setup will suffice for all summer use.

 

[Broadway]

That’s very useful and interesting DW. I’ve also thought about doubling up. Which batteries did you choose? Can you also advise how to access the advance options on the control panel. Thanks.

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[Broadway]

I received a comprehensive reply from Sargent regarding my set up above and thought it worth sharing to close out my initial question and provide information for others with this relatively common set up.

Reply from Sargent and attachments follow.

The PX300 charger is designed to work in conjunction with lead acid, gel, agm and even lithium ion batteries. If you do want to go for a lithium ion battery, you would also need to fit a dc to dc charger in your van so the batteries are charged correctly while the engine is running. To carry out a dc to dc charger installation, please see the guide attached to this email.

 

[itimms]

I have the same van and have just changed the original 95ah battery due to it failing.
For cost and simplicity I have fitted two 100ah batteries to double the available capacity. The battery tray was siliconed down onto the wooden board and also over the retaining strap. Refitted at 90 degrees with the strap as well (it is long enough to hold both) along with another tray. I have linked the drain tube with a windscreen washer tee piece to avoid drilling the floor for the extra battery.
I then adjusted the system for the bigger ah capacity using the advanced options on the panel. This should now be plenty for several days off grid use.
More solar is next but I think the existing setup will suffice for all summer use.

Hi, I just found your post on the web. I have an AS Berkshire. I want to fit 2 '100ah' leisure batteries under the passenger seat. I believe your seat is the same as ours. It sounds like you've done how I'm planning it. What battery tray & batteries did you use? Could you provide a picture? Thanks. Ian.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Hi, I just found your post on the web. I have an AS Berkshire. I want to fit 2 '100ah' leisure batteries under the passenger seat. I believe your seat is the same as ours. It sounds like you've done how I'm planning it. What battery tray & batteries did you use? Could you provide a picture? Thanks. Ian.

Hi, sorry no pictures and as the seat is bolted on, getting any access to see them is impossible due to the rotating plate.
I used 019 batteries and used a generic tray from a caravan shop. The tray is slightly tapered but does still fit side by side with the original.
With 200w of solar it has worked great for my needs.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

That’s very useful and interesting DW. I’ve also thought about doubling up. Which batteries did you choose? Can you also advise how to access the advance options on the control panel. Thanks.

Sorry I have only seen your question following the above question. 019 type 100a Varta was what I went with.

 

[Broadway]

No problem DW. I eventually fitted two Hankook 110ah leisure batteries and adjusted the control panel to suit. All working well.

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[itimms]

Hi, sorry no pictures and as the seat is bolted on, getting any access to see them is impossible due to the rotating plate.
I used 019 batteries and used a generic tray from a caravan shop. The tray is slightly tapered but does still fit side by side with the original.
With 200w of solar it has worked great for my needs.

Ok. Thanks.

 

[Lenny HB]

With your Sargent charger best to stick with standard lead acid batteries regardless of what Sargent say a lot of their chargers arent suitable for other types of battery. Also the best option for your use.

 

[DoroDormobile]

We are just getting ready to head off to Europe next week so was flushing the water system with Puriclean. This morning the leisure battery was reading 13.0V on the main panel. I switched on two taps and in less than 10 mnutes it was down at 12.2V and blinking on its way to 12.0V. We have a solar panel and it has als been on EHU for most of the last 4 months. I would welcome views on whether I should replace the leisure battery before we go away. Is the current leisure battery capacity too limited? There is space for 2 batteries. Should I stick to two lead acid or plump for 1 lithium? Or have I left it too late and should I try to get through 4 weeks in Europe and then sort it out?

 

[VXman]

We are just getting ready to head off to Europe next week so was flushing the water system with Puriclean. This morning the leisure battery was reading 13.0V on the main panel. I switched on two taps and in less than 10 mnutes it was down at 12.2V and blinking on its way to 12.0V. We have a solar panel and it has als been on EHU for most of the last 4 months. I would welcome views on whether I should replace the leisure battery before we go away. Is the current leisure battery capacity too limited? There is space for 2 batteries. Should I stick to two lead acid or plump for 1 lithium? Or have I left it too late and should I try to get through 4 weeks in Europe and then sort it out?

Was anything creating a draw (using the battery) when it read 12.2. battery voltage drop will read lower when being used. You need it to rest for an hour with no use to get a genuine reading.

Lithium is only really if benefit if you do a lot of off grid trips. I do nearly all off grid but I still opted for AGM as it was a lot cheaper and provides more than enough power for my needs.

 

[DoroDormobile]

Thank you. I am a complete novice when it comes to electrics so all advice and tips welcome. The waterpump would have been running when the reading was 12.2V. I will run it and check it again when the sun goes down as I guess the solar input may also affect the voltage readings. We bought the motorhome secondhand last year and don't know how old the leisure battery is.

We occasionally go off grid but not enough to justify lithium at this stage. Will probabluy also look at fitting a Battery Master to charge the starter battery before next winter.

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[DoroDormobile]

I ran the taps and waterpump for 6-7 minutes on 12V late evening when no solar likely to be added. Two hours later leisure battery was reading 12.7V using a multimeter so guess it is still good for another while. Many thanks again for the advice.

 

[MisterB]

if its all ok, dont worry about it but it might help to start planning for when they do start going downhill. it also depends on how long you want to keep the motorhome for and how you use it as to how much money you are willing to spend.

i personally think lithium is the way forward BUT its not a cheap option and some funsters have no problems with their non lithium set ups.

to be honest though, i think i have over spent on things i want as opposed to things i actually must have in order to travel and use my motorhome. i suppose it comes down to what you want, think you need or must have ...